Diagnosis

Hi Robbie and welcome

You say that u are waiting for your dad to have his biopsy.

That will tell u a lot more about the aggressiveness of the cancer, he will be given a Gleeson score of between 6 & 10 , the higher the figure the more aggressive it is. So obviously  hope for a 6 which will probably show as a 3+3.

He will probably need a bone scan to see if has spread to the hip bone, hopefully it hasn't spread and the MRI is showing up something else.

If it is a low Gleeson and it hasn't spread then he will probably be offered surgery or Radiotherapy to cure it.

If it has spread then there are still treatments available but it's probably a bit more of a long term treatment plan.

You will know more when u get the biopsy results, let us know when u know more.

Do the know the size of the tumour that shows in the MRI?

Best wishes

Steve

Hi Steve

Thanks for responding.  He didn't say the size in the prostrate mass just that it was in the bottom right quadrant and the hip was 1cm.  I could see the scan but of course it didnt really mean a lot to me and I didn't want to ask in front of dad.  He has ordered a bone scan, he's had his biopsy and we're due to go back next Thursday for results.  It's just a little overwhelming at the moment of course! Dad I think has just cut, off and carrying on as normal.  He says feels fine in self no physical symptoms as such other than getting up in night for loo and the odd ache and pain which he puts down to old age but now I'm questioning if it's symptoms!  He's 75 so would they offer to remove it? 

Thanks

Robbo 

Robbo

Yes they could remove so long as it has not spread to the hip . But Radiotherapy works just as well and the thinking behind that is that he wouldn't have to go thru a major op at his age.

If it has spread then they would prob start  him on hormone  therapy and Radiotherapy and possibly some chemo.

So the crucial things now are the biopsy results and the bone scan, you should know then everything u need to know.

Hopefully others will post with their views/advice.

Steve

If he is fit and healthy with no heart problems or anything then there is no reason why they may not give him the option of removal.  I was offered both HT with radiotherapy or removal but when the oncology radiologists saw the scans they thought it was so near the edge of the prostate radiotherapy was a better option as it would clear cells that may have escaped.  My urologist agreed.  I was 73 at diagnosis and was on HT for 9 months and had one month of radiotherapy.  We were in the process of moving house when I was diagnosed and received my treatment and a new neighbour of ours, a very fit man of 76 had his prostate removed and is doing brilliantly now at 79.  It looks like my cancer has been cured as my PSA has been undetectable since I completed my radiotherapy at the end of January 2017.  

All the best and keep in touch so that we know how you and your Dad are getting along.

Des

Hi Steve 

apologies I'm losing the plot on where I have posted and I've just updated cos couldn't find this one - think my brain is currently frazzled :-(!

So our news gets worse.  In short dad ended up in a and e cos of infection from biopsy.  The doctor then blurted out that we'd been advised it had spread to bones.  We said no started to ask questions to which he quickly back tracked saying he couldn't answer as not is speciality but there's treatment options and that was it!!! They discharged him and we're back to the waiting game.  

With bone mets - what would possible treatment options?

Currently feeling at a loss as to what to do and feel like screaming.  All I can see ahead is a short road to a painful end.  Plus mum must be at her wits end as they do everything together.  We all travel loads together and not even sure how that will move forward.  They have a place in Spain where we all go regularly - supposedly in 8 weeks. 

Any help much appreciated.

R

Hi Des

Thank you for your response.  Unfortunately it has been confirmed spread to bones but not had proper feedback from specialist so don't know to what areas - please see response to Steve and separate msg - as I forgot I had posted :-(! 

He doesn't have heart trouble but is treated for high blood pressure and copd which are well managed by minimal meds.

Currently feeling pretty desperate and not knowing how to support him or mum.

Thanks 

R

Hi Robbo, Sorry to hear about your Dad,s diagnosis, I was diagnosed almost 3 years ago with Prostrate cancer that had spread to the bones, I was at first given 3-6 months to live and after a course of chemo an radiotherapy I,m still here getting on with my life an always with a smile on my face. I,m a lot younger than your Dad I,m only 56 now so it was all a shock, my consultant has said because of the cancer reaching the bones the treatments are limited, I have been on a drug called Abereterone for the last 19 months an that seems to have the cancer under control, I take other drugs as well which all seem to work, side effects are extreme tiredness almost everyday but with a understanding wife we work round it. As for your dads pain I hope it is minimal at the moment, you didn,t say what his PSA score is now, mine was 197 but since the Aberetterone it,s down to 1.5 so dont be too down heartened things are out there to help your Dad, just do not be afraid to ask questions to your Dr. my advice is always write down any questions as you think of them because your mind always goes fuzzy at meetings. Dont be scared to ask any questions you want as I,m happy to help if I can.

Hi Robbo

Sorry to hear about your dad's infection but it is quite common with prostate biopsy. I am sure that he will recover soon.

I think that you are still waiting for the bone scan and biopsy results??

It will all be much clearer when these are available and they can then start a treatment plan.

If it has definitely spread to the bones then he will probably start on hormone therapy together with some chemo. You could also ask about any available clinical trials, immunotherapy is possibly the next big step for PC.

Let us know when u know more or of course if u have any other questions

Steve

Thank you Eddie. 

My dad is 77 next month.  He has absolutely no symptoms at the moment apart from aches and pains that come and go and which he put down to getting older!  He literally has a third if an acre garden and on Monday before going for his hospital appointment he cut all the lawn and the hedges around a quarter of the garden - so he's generally feeling ok at the moment - long may it continue!!  The cancer was picked up during a urology appointment for a minor complaint which seems to have drifted into the background!  

He got the bombshell that it had spread to bones bt the a and e doc who then wouldn't discuss it cos it wasn't his field of expertise :-(!  

His PSA was 145 with a 1cm shadow on the hip bone on mri - hence the reason for bone scan.  Nothing could be seen on MRI in lymph nodes but that may not mean there isnt! I have read the symptoms and now listening to him talk I think he's got at least 1 of them - running to loo 2/3 times in night.  He's also been complaining of a dry mouth but put it down to inhalers he uses for COPD.

We travel lots and have 2 holidays booked - 1 to Spain in about 8 weeks and another to florida in 4 months which we definitely don't  think will be happening :-(!  Life now seems to be on stop and I just feel so sad.

Thank you for your offer to help - I'm sure I'll be back to ask.more questions.

Robbo

Hi Steve

He's much better thank you. Bizarrely he saw someone he hadn't seen for a few years yesterday and she commented on how well he looked!

During visit to a and e doc dropped out "so you know it's spread to bones?" To which we looked at him aghast and said no.  Said he couldn't discuss as not his field of expertise but then almost flippantly shrugged it off with "there's lots they can do" comment :-(!

I've been reading lots and seen that hormones will be first but not sure where next if Chemo not an option and I read that treatment works best if you have the ht and chemo close together so I'm concerned that he may not have this option.  I think he would have rather not known but it cane unexpectedly on the back of another minor problem so here we are.

I'm dreading Thursday but have a long list.  We don't really want to know time scales as I think this would make both mum and dad worse.  We want to know details of tests and what can be done to treat it.  Is there anything in particular that we should be asking can you think of?

Thanks

Robbo